Entertainment
This Controversial Sitcom Opened to 8.8M Viewers 10 Years Ago, but Was Cancelled Just As Fast
Television is an unforgiving business. Most shows never make it past the pitch stage, and even the ones that do live and die by ratings. Network TV may be viewed as a primitive medium now, but it’s still cutthroat, which is exactly the lesson Joel McHale’s character tries to teach the “coddled” millennials in The Great Indoors. And while we’re still waiting on the long-promised Community movie, it’s worth revisiting the McHale series that briefly looked like a hit before the numbers turned.
The CBS show experienced surprising success during the onset stages of the first season in 2016. During the second half of the season, The Great Indoors‘ ratings plummeted, and the show was cancelled upon the season’s conclusion in 2017. Some would claim the show was not so much taken off the schedule, but rather, a victim of “cancel culture,” due to offending millennials. But in reality, it cancelled itself due to an egregious misread on the part of executives to move away from the perfect lead-in.
McHale Is an Older Journalist Teaching Millennials How To Work in the Real World in ‘The Great Indoors’
Created by Mike Gibbons, co-creator of Tosh.0 and prolific late-night writer, The Great Indoors follows an outdoors magazine journalist, Jack (McHale), who becomes the boss of a group of millennials after the magazine pivots to exclusively digital. Jack, an old-school guy with traditional ways, clashes with the new generation and their tech-obsessed behavior. The magazine is produced by an outdoors adventurer and staunch baby boomer, Roland (Stephen Fry). The series also features Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Christine Ko as the naive millennial employees, and Chris Williams as Jack’s friend and bar owner, who guides him on how to manage this group of young hipsters. Susannah Fielding stars as Brooke, who once had a romantic fling with Jack, and is not only Roland’s daughter but Jack’s boss as well. Throughout the show, Jack embarks on a series of romantic endeavors.
This Is What Happens When You Let Joel McHale Do Everything
Turns out ‘The 1% Club’ host Joel McHale didn’t choose a lane — he built the whole road.
Because modern-day seemingly exists in a cultural vacuum, any year of the decade blends in with each other with few distinct characteristics, but derisively looking down upon millennials as a curse on society is very much 2016-coded. It was a time when “triggering” people deemed “snowflakes” was in vogue and used unironically. The Great Indoors premiered on October 27, 2016, less than two weeks before the hotly contested Presidential election, which was a platform for that hostile dialogue surrounding toughness and fortitude. While the CBS show is not explicitly political or socially active to any degree, it imagines a fantasy where the traditionally masculine, world-traveling reporter teaches inexperienced twentysomethings how to operate in the world beyond the purview of their computer. In the same breath, it gleefully pokes fun at the vanity and arrogance of McHale’s character.
‘The Great Indoors’ Sparked Controversy Among Some Millennials
Life mirroring art, The Great Indoors, a show that provokes its millennial characters, was mired in controversy among millennials upon release. At a press conference for the show’s pilot, a fiery discussion broke out between Gibbons and the cast with members of Millennial Media. The showrunner shared that when they focus-grouped the pilot, the millennial viewer took umbrage with the jokes about the respective generation being coddled. A millennial audience member interrupted Gibbons and asked, “How are we so coddled, and what about our overly politically correct workplace bothers you?” in an incendiary tone. Stephen Fry defended his showrunner, bringing up familiar talking points such as his generation growing up in tougher times, which ignited more contentious back-and-forths between Gibbons and the disgruntled audience member. Gibbons clarified that he respects millennials and their intelligence, but added that they have an “inability to resist taking four photos of themselves a day. They will come back if it’s about them.”
Defending himself against the wrath of the combative millennial audience member, Gibbons insisted that The Great Indoors is an equal-opportunity offender, claiming it targets younger generations and the older generations of McHale and Fry. When a different conference attendee asked Gibbons if the show would be dismissed for its simplistic premise, the writer jokingly responded, “Our show is going to make America great again.” In 2016, those latter four words were destined to ignite any crowd, positively or negatively. The millennial audience member returned to ask if Gibbons wanted millennials to watch the show, since he was striving to alienate them. If the show is offending millennials, it is “the best strategy ever,” McHale responded.
‘The Great Indoors’ Struggled Once It Lost Its ‘Big Bang Theory’ Lead-in
It appeared The Great Indoors struck a chord with a certain demographic in America, as it opened to a solid rating of 8.8 million viewers. Most importantly, the show received a 1.9 rating in the key 18-49 age demographic. The show attracted enough attention to earn a full season extension through 2017. However, The Great Indoors proved to be a front-runner, as the ratings plummeted in the second half of the season. The May 1 airing of Episode 21 dropped to 4.1 million viewers and a 0.8 demo rating.
What happened? Did the “woke mob” ostracize The Great Indoors from the airwaves? Some would tie the show’s initial outrage from select millennials to the show’s eventual cancellation, but the explanation is actually simpler than that. The series initially aired right after CBS’s crown jewel, The Big Bang Theory. Having an advantageous lead-in of that caliber is vital for a brand-new show, and Gibbons’ sitcom capitalized on that opportunity with high ratings. All but the last two episodes of its lone season aired on Thursday nights, then, for whatever reason, executives moved it to Monday to conclude the season. The week before moving to Mondays, the show received 6.4 million viewers and a 1.2 demo. The following week, without the aid of The Big Bang Theory, ratings dropped to 0.9. The series failed to obtain a second season.
Even in an era where network television, especially multi-camera sitcoms, is marginalized in pop culture, the fundamental principles remain intact. An ideal lead-in like The Big Bang Theory can set a show up for decades-long success. When Seinfeld premiered, it aired behind Cheers, and by the time the latter show ended, the former carried the mantle as NBC’s prized show. However, The Great Indoors is no Seinfeld, but merely a forgotten, poorly reviewed sitcom with redundant jokes about every clichéd stereotype of millennials. The show ridiculed people left and right, but they didn’t get the last laugh once the show lost The Big Bang Theory lead-in. If anything, sticking with this lead-in would appear to be common sense, something that Joel McHale’s character would likely mock millennials for lacking.
The Great Indoors is available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.
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Where is the “Dirty Dancing ”cast now? See what happened to Baby after she left her corner
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Grab your watermelons and check in on the cast of “Dirty Dancing.”
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When it comes to effortless, off-duty style, Nicole Kidman rarely misses — and her latest sunglasses moment proves that sometimes one simple accessory can make an entire outfit feel instantly put together. While her look gives major “it-girl” energy, recreating the vibe doesn’t require a designer budget. In fact, the Wemootants Cat Eye Reading Sunglasses on Amazon look eerily similar, and ring in at just $22.
Kidman was spotted wearing the stylish sunnies while at the Sydney airport. The oversized silhouette instantly frames the face and adds that “put-together without trying too hard” vibe that makes sunglasses feel less like an afterthought and more like the centerpiece of a look. The cat-eye shape brings a little lift and glamour, so they feel equally at home with a slick bun, minimal makeup or an effortless off-duty outfit like Kidman’s.
Get the Wemootants Cat Eye Reading Sunglasses for $22 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
As a bonus, the full-reader lens design means you don’t have to swap between sunglasses and reading glasses when you’re outside. Whether you’re scrolling your phone at brunch, reading by the pool or answering emails from a patio table, they blend practicality with style.
One Amazon shopper with sensitive eyes called them “super cute” and “comfortable,” adding that they’re “full reading glasses so [they] can actually see in the sun with sensitive blue eyes.”
If you’ve been looking for a simple way to elevate your everyday outfits, consider this your sign. At just $22, this cat-eye style makes it easy to channel a little Kidman–level polish without overthinking it. Shop the Wemootants Cat Eye Reading Sunglasses on Amazon before they inevitably sell out.
Get the Wemootants Cat Eye Reading Sunglasses for $22 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more cat eye sunglasses here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Everyone loves a good hallway fight scene, and, in recent years, they’ve become a sort of staple of well-made action movies. There are countless great examples in cinema and TV, but one franchise has particularly mastered the art of the hallway fight scene: Star Wars.
Everyone remembers that incredible Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) brawl in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but, since then, there have been another five such sequences set in the galaxy far, far away, and many people forget that there is already a crazy one in the original movie. So, here are all seven hallway action sequences in Star Wars, ranked.
7
Han Solo in ‘Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope’ (1977)
Yes, this counts. It’s the very first in the franchise, in Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, and an extremely quirky one at that. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) goes after a group of Stormtroopers, screaming at the top of his lungs, only to reach a hangar full of them and retreat the way he came. There’s barely any action, as it plays more on the comedic side, but it still works as a perfect Han moment: shoot first, think later.
This scene is also one of the many changes made by George Lucas in the Special Edition released in 1997. In the original, the hallway leads to a dead end with only five Stormtroopers. The odds are still against Han, but the hangar works much better, let’s face it.
6
Baylan Skoll in ‘Ahsoka’ Season 1 (2023)
A hallway scene that isn’t top-of-mind, but made quite a stir when it aired is Baylan Skoll‘s (Ray Stevenson) in the series premiere of Ahsoka. He and his apprentice, Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), storm a New Republic cruiser to free former Imperial warlord Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto). When Skoll reaches the brig hallway, he cuts through every single officer on the way, casually strutting to Elbeth’s cell when it’s done.
Although very brief, this scene is elevated by the late and great Ray Stevenson. He portrays Baylan making full use of his stature, turning him into the kind of opponent no one would want to confront directly. His deadpan expression and mechanical movements also emphasize how powerful Baylan is, while also hinting that there is a lot more to know about this former Jedi than being only a powerful warrior.
5
K-2SO in ‘Andor’ Season 2 (2025)
The funniest (yes, more than Han) entry on this list is also the most brutal (yes, more than Number 1), and takes place in the final two episodes of Star Wars‘ most serious property, Andor. When Cassian (Diego Luna), Melshi (Duncan Pow), and Kleya (Elizabeth Dulau) find themselves cornered by the ISB in the old rebel safehouse apartment on Coruscant, K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) rescues them by violently killing every agent on the way. After the slaughter, he proudly announces: “Cassian! I’ve cleared a path!”
This sequence has incredibly high stakes, given the importance of Kleya’s message, Luthen’s (Stellan Skarsgård) recent sacrifice, and Supervisor Heert (Jacob James Beswick) determination to catch Kleya after Director Krennic’s (Ben Mendelsohn) ultimatum. The dark hallway feels like a horror movie slaughter setting, but K-2SO’s attitude balances the weight by replying ironically to ISB agents and even using Heert as a human shield, despite his own blaster-proof coating.
4
Obi-Wan Kenobi in ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ (2022)
Say what you will about the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries, it does feature some incredible action sequences. The hallway action scene in “Part IV” is among them, where Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) protects young Leia Organa (Vivien Lyra Blair) from Imperial forces at Fortress Inquisitorius. Trapped from both sides inside an underwater corridor, Obi-Wan finally comes onto himself again after years of letting his connection to the Force wane because of the grief and regret he’s been carrying since the ending of Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith.
There are many great aspects to this scene, from fighting choreography to visual storytelling. First, Obi-Wan is doing what the Jedi are supposed to do, protecting an innocent person from harm, and that person being Leia significantly raises the stakes, too. More important, however, is how he does it. Obi-Wan directly strikes a Stormtrooper only once, because they were already at close range; all the others he defeats only by cleverly deflecting their blaster shots — a staple of his preferred lightsaber combat form, Soresu — and using the incoming flood to his favor. That’s the Jedi way: avoid striking at all costs and protect the innocent.
3
Maul in ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Season 7 (2020)
The final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars has no shortage of great action scenes, but Maul’s (Sam Witwer) hallway fight against a squad of Clone Troopers could very well pass as the definition of “rampage.” Even without a lightsaber, the former Darth makes quick work of the clones by using sheets of the walls as shields and blades with the Force. He never touches anything or anyone, and barely breaks his stride. There’s even room for a final display of gratuitous cruelty when he traps a clone’s arm on a closing blast door after he’s already gotten the poor bastard’s blaster.
The whole sequence happens in the animated series’ penultimate episode, in the context of Order 66, which forced Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) to free Maul from his confinement after taking the whole Siege of Mandalore — a 4-episode story arc — to capture him. Once the clones turn on her, she decides to use Maul as a distraction, setting him free so she could make her own escape. Maul actually asks her for “a fighting chance” in the form of a lightsaber, but that was clearly an attempt to deceive her, as he then proceeds to demonstrate how he actually doesn’t need a weapon to defeat his enemies.
2
Luke Skywalker in ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2 (2020)
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is the undeniable greatest hero of Star Wars, but we never really got to see him in his prime; in Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi, he is still barely a Jedi Knight, despite his amazing feats. So, when Luke defeats a whole Imperial cruiser filled with Dark Troopers in The Mandalorian, seeing it was a dream come true for most fans. In the Season 2 finale, he rescues Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), young Grogu and their friends from Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), displaying his mastery of lightsaber combat for the first time and taking out an entire hallway of Dark Troopers up close.
When this scene initially aired in 2020, it felt like a direct nod to Darth Vader’s (James Earl Jones) own hallway scene in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, with Luke getting his own iteration of that moment. The Mandalorian‘s version, however, has no deaths, as all of Luke’s opponents are mechanical. Still, the fact that they are essentially overpowered droids in great numbers raises the stakes of his rescue mission, requiring him to actually defeat them. This moment also connects the movie and television corners of the Star Wars universe for the first time, making it a huge deal for the franchise.
1
Darth Vader in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ (2016)
Finally, the ultimate Star Wars hallway scene and one of the best in cinema altogether. Whenever someone thinks about a hallway fight or about Rogue One, it’s Darth Vader’s scene in a corridor filled with rebel soldiers that comes to mind. It has everything: it’s aligned with his character, a powerful soundtrack, franchise-defining high stakes… Rogue One already has an incredibly dramatic outcome for its story and characters, but Vader’s hallway scene manages to elevate it even more, highlighting just how close the rebels came to losing the war before it even started.
The scene takes place at the end of the Battle of Scarif. The entire Rogue One crew is dead, and the rebels are hurrying to get the Death Star plans to Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) aboard the Tantive IV. Before the ship can depart, however, there’s Vader. The scene perfectly captures one of the Sith Lord’s key traits: he’s a huge drama queen. He creates a whole atmosphere for his entrance — the lights go out, his mechanical breathing fills the room, and his lightsaber is ignited with perfect timing to allow everyone to make out just his dark silhouette. In a little over 10 seconds, he makes an impression that lasts way longer than the following carnage.
Vader’s moment in Rogue One is what started the trend of epic hallway fight scenes in Star Wars, making it a staple of the franchise under Disney. It also influenced many other artists and pretty much consolidated this as more than a trope; now, a well-made hallway fight works almost as a quality certificate for an action film or series. There have been many such scenes before in other movies, of course, but it was Vader who made everyone want one after Rogue One.
Amy Duggar King has taken back her previous support of embattled cousin Joseph Duggar’s wife, Kendra Duggar, following Kendra’s arrest on a child endangerment charge.
“I think that was a plot twist that no one saw coming,” Amy, 39, said of Kendra’s arrest during a Saturday, March 21, interview with TMZ. “When I gave that [first] statement … that was just the information I was given at the time and thought to be true. Now that the information has changed and there’s more that is coming out and there’s a lot of question marks right now.”
Amy added, “I’m just going to steer that statement towards the kids because that’s what matters right now, is the kids’ safety, the victim and her family, and the four children that were in [Joseph and Kendra’s] home. That is where my heart lies. I’m just going to lay there.”
Amy was one of the first members of the extended Duggar family to speak out when Joseph, 31, was arrested on Wednesday, March, 18, on charges of lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. (Joseph is accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl when they were on vacation together in Panama City Beach, Florida, in 2020.)
Kendra Duggar’s mugshot was revealed shortly after she was arrested on criminal charges. A press release from the Tontitown Police Department on Friday, March 20, stated that both Kendra, 27, and her husband, Joseph Duggar, are facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree, and four counts of false […]
“Recognizing that we do not yet know the full picture, I am also praying for Joseph’s wife, Kendra, as she begins to process this, and for the protection of their children,” Amy originally said in a statement on Thursday, March 19. “I’m praying for eyes to be opened and above all, I pray that justice will be served to the fullest.”
Amy subsequently broke down in tears in a social media post on Friday, March 20, when Kendra, along with Joseph, were arrested on four unrelated counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, second degree, and four counts of second degree false imprisonment.
“I’m learning just like everyone else and looking through any kind of article that I can find, trying to get answers, because obviously this is [heartbreaking],” Amy told TMZ on Saturday. “This is really, really hard on everybody. … It’s not just about the people who are inside this bubble, that believe this certain system. It’s people who loved them. I loved Joe. I loved Kendra. There are so many people who are just wanting this to be not so serious.”
Kendra Duggar mugshot. Courtesy of Washington County Detention Center
Amy expressed sympathy for the 14-year-old girl who came forward with molestation allegations against Joseph, saying the alleged victim “should have been safe, should have been loved.”
“My heart cannot wrap around that,” Amy admitted. “The person that I thought I knew is apparently not the person he is today. I will hold him accountable and I want justice to be served to the fullest.”
Speaking exclusively to Us Weekly on Saturday, an insider sought to distance Kendra’s arrest from Joseph’s child molestation case.
Bay County, Florida sheriff Tommy Ford has condemned Joseph Garrett Duggar following the 19 Kids and Counting star’s arrest on child molestation charges. “We work, unfortunately, way too many of these types of cases, and I don’t care if he’s got a TV show, or who he is, or what he’s done, he’s committed an […]
“Kendra’s arrest has nothing to do with Joseph’s — although one precipitated another,” the source told Us. “After his charge, they automatically do a home study if minors live there. They came to her house.”
They added, “Apparently, they had two rooms where the lock of the doorknob was on the outside instead of inside. They arrested her and took her kids for that, saying it’s evidence that she wrongly detains her kids.”
Us has reached out to the Duggars for comment.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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The late action hero lives on through the jokes about his strength and aura.
Lindsey Vonn has showcased her dedication to recovering from her catastrophic leg injury at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Just six weeks after her dramatic crash at the Milan and Cortina games, Vonn, 41, posted an Instagram video on Saturday, March 21, to reveal that she is already doing full sets on a pull up bar at the gym.
“First set of pull ups post surgery… slowly getting there,” Vonn captioned the Instagram post.
Vonn’s followers hailed her resilience, including Chelsea Handler replying, “INSPIRING, INCREDIBLE, BEAST MODE.”
The champion skier went into the Olympics in Italy having already torn her ACL during a World Cup race in Switzerland on January 30. Vonn defied the odds by pushing through her pain at the Olympic trials to compete in Milan and Cortina.
Disaster struck only 13 seconds into Vonn’s women’s downhill event on February 8 when she crashed and had to be airlifted to a hospital to undergo an emergency orthopedic operation to stabilize a complex tibia fracture.
Vonn underwent additional procedures in both Italy and once she returned home to the U.S., revealing that she nearly had her leg amputated due to the severe trauma caused by her crash.
“Dr. Tom Hackett saved my leg,” Vonn explained in a social media post at the time. “He saved my leg from being amputated. He did what’s called a fasciotomy, where he cut open both sides of my leg and kind of filleted it open so to speak, let it breathe, and he saved me.”
Lindsey Vonn is currently living by the motto, “No pain, no gain,” and her recovery videos prove it. The professional athlete, 41, shared a brutal video of her injured leg on Friday, March 13, following her 2026 Winter Olympics crash that resulted in multiple surgeries earlier this year. In the clip shared via Vonn’s Instagram […]
Once Vonn started physical therapy in early March, she admitted her disappointment about falling off the top of downhill skiing’s world rankings.
“Well… I’ve had the red leader bib from the first race of the season until now, but in all likelihood tomorrow will be my last day as #1,” Vonn wrote via Instagram on March 6. “At the beginning of the season no one would have ever believed I would be even close to this position. And I bet people would have laughed if it was even suggested. But winning the title was my goal… and I came painfully close to achieving it.”
Vonn mentioned that she doesn’t like bragging about her achievements but felt it was important to draw attention to her success after nearly six years in retirement.
“I was on the podium of every single downhill race, including 2 wins,” she pointed out. “I clawed my way back to #1 in the world after being retired for 6 years with a partial knee replacement and that alone was an incredible achievement I won’t ever forget. Even though in a few days no one will remember that I almost won the season title, I will remember. I didn’t want to win the title to prove anything to anyone. I did it because I knew I could. I just wish I had a chance to fight until the end to try and get it.”
Amid speculation that she would walk away from the sport once again, Vonn tweeted on March 14, “Who said I was retiring?”
A fan replied that “the ego is so strong in this one” before encouraging her to put her “feet up and be done.”
“Think you’re mistaking ego for joy,” Vonn corrected them. “I’ve said it my whole life; I love skiing. I’ll put my feet up when I’m good and ready, thank you.”
It’s safe to say that one of the most timeless genres of film is the Western. From the Golden Age of Hollywood to our current resurgence in the Taylor Sheridan era, audiences simply cannot get enough of the Wild Wild West. It’s a chance to escape to a world we used to play in as kids, but beyond that, the stories are rich and deeply thematic. It’s partially why it’s such a crowd-pleasing genre.
Since the dawn of the Western, there have been countless titles that have been considered masterpieces, but what about those films that are simply meant to entertain? We’re here to discuss the 10 most crowd-pleasing Westerns ever. From those that epitomize the old west to comedies that poke fun at the genre, these movies are simply a good ol’ time that everyone can have.
1
‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969)
Perhaps the pinnacle of buddy cop Westerns comes in 1969’s exceptional Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Directed by George Roy Hill and written by William Goldman, the film is loosely based on the Wild West outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker, known as Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman), and his partner Harry Longabaugh, the “Sundance Kid” (Robert Redford). A story of fast draws and wild rides, with posses, robberies, and a torrid love affair, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid follows two outlaws on the run for their lives to Bolivia while shining a light on a remarkable friendship. A lighthearted and likable Western, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is pure joy. Beyond the comedy, the film explores the end of the Old West and the encroachment of modern civilization. It’s a bittersweet story.
Blending Western grit with lighthearted charm, this film has become so beloved because of its stars. Both Redford and Newman had storied careers before and after the film, yet their dynamic as a duo remains one of their best work. They had a natural, charismatic rapport that carried the film all the way through. Like a great Western should, the vibrancy in cinematography contributed to the film’s splendor. Earning four Academy Awards, including Best Song for Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” the film’s legacy is everlasting. A film that epitomized the swinging ’60s, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of those films that can never be replicated.
2
‘Stagecoach’ (1939)
If there’s any landmark film that perfected the Western genre, it’s John Ford’s Stagecoach. The Western classic tells the tale of nine disparate passengers as they travel through dangerous Apache territory from Tonto, Arizona, to Lordsburg, New Mexico. The journey showcases their evolving relationships, personal dramas, and eager redemption, ultimately resulting in a climactic final showdown. Featuring one of John Wayne’s most iconic performances as the Ringo Kid that launched him into stardom, Stagecoach is a simple story that highlights profound character-driven moments.
The film’s characters are vibrant and unique, lifting the material to great heights. The motley crew comprises a disgraced prostitute, Dallas (Claire Trevor), driven out of town by the Law and Order League; a drunken doctor named Josiah Boone (Thomas Mitchell); a snobbish pregnant officer’s wife, Lucy Mallory (Louise Platt); a diminutive whiskey salesman, Samuel Peacock (Donald Meek); a gambler by the name of Hatfield (John Carradine); an arrogant corrupt banker, Ellsworth H. Gatewood (Berton Churchill); Marshal Curley Wilcox (George Bancroft); and an outlaw, The Ringo Kid (Wayne). This recipe for an unlikely group of travelers has inspired countless Westerns, from the classics to today’s Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. Through pioneering stunt work to breathtaking cinematography in Monument Valley, you can’t help but point to this film as one that epitomizes classic Westerns. Though a 1966 remake and a 1986 television film were made, nothing beats the original.
3
‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ (1966)
Whether you’re a die-hard Western lover or a casual fan, there’s no doubt you’ve heard of the Spaghetti Western subgenre. If you’re looking for a film that perfectly depicts the style, look no further than Sergio Leone’s monumental The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The film follows three amoral, gunslinging bounty hunters who shift alliances and betrayals as they search for buried Confederate gold amid the chaos of conflict. Now to the famous title. The good is represented by Blondie (Clint Eastwood), the bad through Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef), and the ugly as Tuco (Eli Wallach). The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly helped redefine Westerns by blurring the lines between hero and villain through the 1960s’ disillusioned lens.
From a cynical vantage point on the American Civil War, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a gritty, stylized, slow-burning thriller. Leone is a pioneer of Spaghetti Westerns, with this classic possibly being his most beloved. His expert use of long shots, close-ups, and minimal dialogue builds the intense atmosphere with ease. Renowned for the legendary Mexican standoff and Ennio Morricone‘s soaring score, the film highlights the beauty of its backdrop, but the reality that justice is rare and survival is the true mission. Referenced, parodied, and celebrated, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is the cornerstone of Western pop culture.
4
‘The Magnificent Seven’ (1960)
One of the true classics of the genre is The Magnificent Seven. Directed by John Sturges, the film tells the story of seven diverse, skilled gunslingers hired to protect a defenseless village terrorized by a ruthless band of marauders led by Calvert (Eli Wallach). The group consists of varied individuals — Cajun gunslinger Chris Adams (Yul Brynner); drifter Vin Tanner (Steve McQueen); young, hot-blooded shootist Chico (Horst Buchholz); the professional Bernardo O’Reily (Charles Bronson); the traumatized veteran Lee (Robert Vaughn), fortune seeker Harry Luck (Brad Dexter); and knife expert Britt (James Coburn) — all looking for money, excitement, or redemption. A skillful adaptation of Seven Samurai, the Western iteration balances the themes of camaraderie, sacrifice, and heroism with sensational action.
A film best remembered for its outstanding ensemble, The Magnificent Seven thrives over time. The all-star cast had grown into legends in their own right thanks to this project. Like many iconic Westerns of the time, the movie’s ability to build the world through set pieces and orchestration remains one of its highlights. Through its epic, adventurous American spirit, The Magnificent Seven is a rip-roaring classic. Like its predecessor, The Magnificent Seven continued through remakes and sequels. In fact, we ended 2025 with the major announcement that a new television adaptation had been greenlit. Suffice it to say, the impact of The Magnificent Seven lingers on.
5
‘True Grit’ (2010)
In almost every other situation, we’ll take the original over the remake. But in the case of True Grit, the Joel and Ethan Coen remake not only built upon its source material, but it also made it even better. A more faithful adaptation, True Grit follows 14-year-old farm girl Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) as she hires grizzled, trigger-happy lawman Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to go after outlaw Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), who murdered her father. Accompanied by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who has his own vendetta against Chaney, the trio embarks on a perilous journey into Indian Territory for revenge and punishment. Showcasing the splendor and grandeur of the West through a 21st-century lens, True Grit became a Western modern marvel, especially with that 95% Rotten Tomatoes score.
This True Grit serves as the superior adaptation of the novel through its grim and grizzly yet enthralling direction. The Coens intelligently guided the film to be narrative-driven, avoiding a reliance on bloodshed as the primary focus. Paired with sensational performances from a standout ensemble, this version of the story focuses on Mattie’s perspective, and with an extraordinary debut in a theatrical performance, Steinfeld earned an Academy Award nomination for the film. It’s safe to say that the modern resurgence of Westerns was partially thanks to the appetite from True Grit.
6
‘Tombstone’ (1993)
When it comes to Westerns in the ’90s, George P. Cosmatos‘ Tombstone defined the genre. Inspired by real events in the 1880s in Southeast Arizona, Tombstone tells the story of retired lawman Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) as he moves to Arizona for a quiet life. Instead, he’s forced back into action as a ruthless gang known as the Cowboys, led by Curly Bill Brocius (Powers Boothe) and Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn), terrorize the town. Focusing on the feud leading to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the subsequent vendetta ride to restore order, Tombstone is a timeless classic that explores justice, loyalty, and vengeance.
The joy of Tombstone is just how iconic a film it is. From iconic quotes to intense action sequences to a legendary performance by Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, Tombstone maintains its status as a staple of the genre. Beyond Kilmer, the entire ensemble, including Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Dana Delaney, and Charlton Heston, dazzles. Tombstone is truly a celebration of a band of brothers. It’s a stylish take on the Old West we all imagined. Even if you don’t like Westerns, Tombstone is a satisfying film, holding steady at 93% on the Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes.
7
‘Django Unchained’ (2012)
If there’s one thing that Quentin Tarantino can do, it’s go from genre to genre with the greatest of ease. In 2012, he tackled the Western through a revisionist tribute to Spaghetti Westerns called Django Unchained. Set in the Antebellum South and the Old West pre-Civil War, Django (Jamie Foxx) finds himself accompanying an unorthodox German bounty hunter by the name of Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) on a mission to capture the vicious Brittle brothers (M.C. Gainey, Cooper Huckabee, and Doc Duhame). Django, on a mission to reunite with his long-lost wife (Kerry Washington), finds himself on a hunt with Schultz to hunt the South’s most-wanted criminals. An unrelenting revenge-driven story, Django Unchained captured the dark side of the West through Tarantino’s stylized vision.
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of vengeance was the perfect tagline for the film. Marrying his signature dark humor with a sharp perspective on historical injustice, Django Unchained goes beyond a simple, entertaining film. That said, if strong language and extreme violence are not your thing, steer clear of this film. The film did stir up controversy for both, but at the end of the day, it didn’t deter it from remaining a modern classic. Though Foxx and Waltz do most of the heavy lifting, with Waltz earning an Oscar, Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin J. Candie is sublime. Ending 2012 on many critics’ top 10 lists, Django Unchained was a Western like no one had seen before.
8
‘Blazing Saddles’ (1974)
It wouldn’t be right to not include the greatest send-up of the genre ever, Blazing Saddles. From the genius that is Mel Brooks, the iconic comedy is about robber baron Hedley Lamarr (Harvey Korman), who is determined to take over Rock Ridge by driving out the denizens. His plan? There’s a new sheriff — crafty railroad worker Bart (Cleavon Little) — who becomes the frontier town’s first Black sheriff. Instead, Bart and his sidekick, Jim the Waco Kid (Gene Wilder), end up being the villain’s most formidable opponent. A far-too-crude yet constantly hilarious comedy, Blazing Saddles pushed the boundaries beyond the edge and straight off the cliff.
Perhaps a tad too politically incorrect for today, Blazing Saddles was a product of its time. Satirizing racism and stereotypes in Westerns by utilizing anachronisms and humor to expose the prejudices of the all-white townspeople and the land-grabbing villain, the film employs every gag in the book. It’s brash and crass in all the right ways. With a cast of eccentric characters, Blazing Saddles is the complete Brooks experience. The cast is top-notch, especially the brilliant Madeline Kahn as Lili Von Schtupp. Her rendition of “I’m Tired” as if she’s Marlene Dietrich is pure camp. Though other Brooks films may hold up better today, Blazing Saddles blazed an important comedic trail while poking fun at a beloved genre.
9
‘3:10 to Yuma’ (2007)
Another example of an upgraded remake, 3:10 to Yuma, blends classic Western elements through a modern lens for an utterly entertaining viewing. The film tells the story of Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a struggling, crippled rancher who volunteers to escort notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to face justice via a train to Yuma prison, where a $200 reward awaits him. On a mission to save his ranch, Evans embarks on a treacherous journey against Wade’s ruthless gang, led by Charlie Prince (Ben Foster), while navigating a tense psychological battle with a cunning outlaw. A story of honor, redemption, and the battle between good and evil, 3:10 to Yuma is an intense Western thriller that transcends clichés.
Though the 1957 version is admired, the update is even more action-packed. Hinging on the dynamics between two strong-willed individuals, the complex relationship between Evans and Wade is amplified by the sensational performances of Bale and Crowe. Director James Mangold builds tension through its moral depth. It’s a fiery interpretation of the original that established itself as a satisfying entry in the modern rise of Westerns.
10
‘The Searchers’ (1956)
To close out, we have another classic Wayne-Ford collaboration that may be best known for subverting the traditional hero tropes, The Searchers. The film follows Ethan Edwards (Wayne), a hateful Civil War veteran searching for his kidnapped niece, Debbie (Natalie Wood). His mission isn’t to save her, but to kill her due to his perception that she has become tainted by living with the Comanche. A brutal look at the frontier through themes of racism and obsession, The Searchers is an example of how redemption can be earned in the end.
A critical masterpiece in the Western world, The Searchers is a complex film that tackles the psychological toll the West can have on an individual. Wayne, usually a perfect hero, swaps that morality for a story of vengeance. He’s an unlikely protagonist as he plays a deeply disturbed anti-hero. Ford uses this piece to confront the difficult and often uncomfortable aspects of American history and identity. Beautifully filmed, The Searchers is a transcendent masterpiece.
The Searchers
- Release Date
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May 26, 1956
- Runtime
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119 minutes
- Director
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John Ford
- Writers
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Frank S. Nugent
-
-
Jeffrey Hunter
Martin Pawley
Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling delivers a knockout, career-best performance in the modern sci-fi masterpiece, Project Hail Mary. What’s equally exciting about Project Hail Mary is that the movie serves as the perfect precursor and appetizer for Gosling’s next performance, as he stars in a new live-action theatrical Star Wars movie. Based on Gosling’s work in an imaginative, yet very scientifically grounded sci-fi feature, we can’t wait to see what he does in next year’s Star Wars: Starfighter, as Gosling’s performance as Ryland Grace proves that he’s more than up to the task of playing a compelling interstellar adventurer!
A Key Relationship in ‘Project Hail Mary’ Looks Directly Inspired by ‘Star Wars’
A sizable chunk of Project Hail Mary focuses on the relationship between Ryland Grace (Gosling) and his fellow scientist and explorer, an Eridian alien whom Grace nicknames Rocky (James Ortiz). Despite their differing backgrounds, Grace and Rocky form a tear-jerking, heartfelt, and emotional relationship, where they literally risk life and limb for one another. It’s the true heart and emotional core of the movie, and it’s directly inspired by relationships typically found in beloved Star Wars media. A movie like Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back captured moviegoers’ collective imaginations through its depiction of the relationship between Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and the elderly Jedi master, Yoda (Frank Oz). It’s irrelevant that Yoda is a puppet. Oz brings that character to life onscreen, and Hamill sells the relationship between Luke and Yoda, making the characters and their relationship into something tangible and “real” for the audience.
Gosling and Ortiz do the same thing with Grace and Rocky. They bring those characters and their relationship to vivid life onscreen, and the audience believes it. Their chemistry enthralls viewers’ collective imaginations just like Luke and Yoda. Project Hail Mary, through the dynamic bond that Grace and Rocky form over the course of the story, restores a childlike innocence and imagination to cinema that Star Wars similarly inspired in moviegoers for decades.
Grace’s Hero’s Journey Is Taken Right Out of the ‘Star Wars’ Playbook
Although Grace starts the movie as a molecular biologist-turned-science-teacher, he’s forced to become a reluctant astronaut with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. That unique take on the hero’s journey comes right out of the Star Wars playbook. A mild-mannered and unassuming individual must reluctantly follow the path of heroism and save a literal planet. Technically, it’s not just Earth’s civilization at stake in Project Hail Mary, but Rocky’s home planet, Erid, as well. Through Gosling’s Grace, taking on the role of a reluctant would-be hero, viewers can find parallels to a character like the scoundrel pilot Han Solo in Star Wars, whose swagger hides a genuine heart of gold. Although Grace doesn’t have the persona of a dashing rogue, he finds himself in a position where he must become an unwitting hero, much like Solo.
Project Hail Mary once again proves Gosling’s versatility as an actor. He consistently delivers amazing work in more intimate, lower-budget thriller dramas like Drive, or he can portray a more comedic performance like Ken in the Barbie movie. However, based on Gosling’s performance as Grace, a character who finds himself isolated and alone on a high-risk mission in outer space, he must become the mission’s unwitting engineer and pilot to save planet Earth. Grace taking the pilot’s chair in Project Hail Mary provides some amazing moments, so we can’t wait to see what Gosling does as his pilot character in Starfighter.
‘Project Hail Mary’ Features Moments Reminiscent of ‘Star Wars’
Project Hail Mary also features some nail-biting and riveting action-packed moments set in space that certainly whet the appetite for Star Wars: Starfighter. There’s an incredibly suspenseful sequence where Grace must go on a daring space walk that puts us on the very edge of our seats. It felt reminiscent of some of the best and most suspenseful moments in movies like Star Wars, such as when characters have to race out of an exploding space station in Return of the Jedi or The Phantom Menace. Gosling always makes sure to bring an emotional connection to all of these scenes, so the audience is always dialed in to the fate and peril the characters experience.
That’s something that good scenes should always bring to the table, and the action in Project Hail Mary came off like a throwback to the Lucasfilm and Amblin Entertainment movies of yore. Gosling consistently imbues the action beats with his movie star presence, charm, and charisma, but he never loses sight of the plot’s stakes or his character’s emotional arc. Based on how well he performs in the big action and space moments in Project Hail Mary, he will undoubtedly portray a cool, compelling, and believable pilot character in Star Wars: Starfighter.
Gosling is currently one of the best actors working today. He’s been the hunky male romantic lead who makes women swoon in The Notebook and Crazy, Stupid, Love. He’s done the high-octane action hero thing with The Fall Guy, and he led an epic sci-fi drama in Project Hail Mary. Now, he will embark on an epic space fantasy with Star Wars: Starfighter. Once audiences glimpse Gosling’s work in Project Hail Mary, their excitement level for Starfighter will go up exponentially, just as it did for us. We can’t wait to see what he delivers when Starfighter zooms into theaters at lightspeed on May 28, 2027.
Project Hail Mary is now playing in theaters.
- Release Date
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March 20, 2026
- Runtime
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156 Minutes
- Director
-
Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
- Writers
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Drew Goddard, Andy Weir
- Producers
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Ryan Gosling, Amy Pascal, Andy Weir, Aditya Sood, Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, Rachel O’Connor
Perez Hilton has shared dramatic photos from a recent hospital stay in Las Vegas for a mysterious medical emergency.
“March madness indeed! Have I got a story to tell,” Hilton, 47, hinted via Instagram on Saturday, March 21.
The former Celebrity Big Brother star included numerous alarming photos taken from his room at Clark County, Nevada’s Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center.
The photos include a shot of multiple scars on his stomach — seemingly from stitches — and tubes in his nose and across his throat. Another shot shows Hilton staring directly into the camera while wearing an oxygen mask.
Perez Hilton with scars on his stomach. Courtesy Instagram/Perez Hilton
Hilton received an outpouring of support from his famous followers, including singer Bebe Rexha, The Real Housewives of Miami star Marysol Patton and RuPaul’s Drag Race legend Coco Montrese.
“Hope you’re okay honey,” Meghan McCain encouraged him.
“Wishing you a speedy recovery,” Francia Raisa wrote to Hilton, with America’s Next Top Model alum Kelly Cutrone adding, “Blessings Abound.”
In a second post, Hilton confirmed he was back at his Las Vegas home and promised to open up about his mysterious ailment soon.
“Before I tell you this I went through — soon, in full detail — I wanted to share something very important,” he narrated over clips of himself in his hospital bed. “When I moved to Las Vegas three years ago, I heard horror stories about the healthcare here. But I need to let everybody know that I went to Southern Hills Hospital and I received the best care there.”
Hilton shouted out several nurses and doctors who cared for him during his recent hospital stay, pointing out that he may not have survived without their professionalism.
“Everybody was amazing … Thank you all and, also, thank you to the Filipino community. So many of my nurses were Filipino,” he added. “I love you all and I thank you all so much. Every single person at Southern Hills Hospital in Las Vegas — I would not be home already, if it were not for you.”
He captioned the video, “You are angels, all of you at @southernhillshospitallv!”
“I hope you are ok,” former Girls Next Door star Holly Madison replied to Hilton’s video.
Us Weekly has reached out to Hilton’s representative for comment.
Hilton moved from Los Angeles to Las Vegas with his three children — Mario Armando, 13, Mia Alma, 10, and Mayte Amor, 8, — in January 2023. At the time, Hilton told Real Vegas Magazine that uprooting his entire family was “so hard,” especially since he had to sell his L.A. home and build a new one in Vegas.
“It was a real challenge to sell my home in LA, and I believe in being straightforward about it,” he explained. “At the same time, I was also managing the construction of a house in Las Vegas. It’s an experience that I won’t be repeating, but ultimately, everything turned out well, and I’m truly thankful for that.”
He went on, “Moving is tough, especially with kids! There’s so much to do – finding schools, doctors, dentists, and dealing with the DMV. Don’t even get me started on that lol. It took time, but seeing my kids happy in our new home made it all worth it. We love using our pool in Vegas, and we’re enjoying more family time together.”
Entertainment
Chuck Norris was still kickboxing shortly before his death: 'I don’t age. I level up.'
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The late martial arts icon could be seen in action in an Instagram post from March 10.
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